Brown Sugar Kitchen

***** Brown Sugar Kitchen is exactly what it sounds like it is: sweet, home-cooking in its most heavenly form. Waffles and pancakes are pretty standard fare for a breakfast, but I promise, once you have had one from this place, your ideas of melting perfection are changed forever. These waffles are ever-so-slightly crispy on the outside for shape, form, and texture, and they melt in your mouth as gently as the apple spiced maple syrup drizzled upon them. If you are more of a corned beef hash sort, you won't be disappointed. The meats are seasoned like no other you have ever tasted in the most inexplicably delicious assortments, you keep wondering what you are missing when you are there! One word of caution: there is ALWAYS a wait on the weekend. Don't even pretend like you might be able to squeeze in a visit before your activities. This is an activity and experience in itself that deserves the time it takes to get a table. Another: it is sneaky and so blatantly in the middle of nothing else, you might not notice it... truth. That is why I used a picture of their store instead of their food for this post!

Greens

*****People everywhere will tell you that Greens is the best vegetarian cuisine in the San Francisco Bay Area. They somehow manage to make you forget that what you are eating doesn't contain meat and never wanted to.... Many vegetarian restaurants in the area use processed soy products that are about as meat-like as shoe inserts. Greens sticks with what it knows: vegetables- and boy does it know them! Case in Point: I brought six teenage boys on a Saturday night before going to my favorite Improv show at BATS, and they all RAVED about it- even shared the name of it with their friends when they went back to school! Teenage boys... Vegetarian recommendations... If I didn't know what they were talking about, I would have started walking the streets with Zombie Apocalypse signs! Word of Caution: it is a bit pricey.

Spice I Am!

****There is a new Thai Place on Park Street in Alameda. Word of Warning: I have eaten here at least five times, and every single time I walk past it the first round because it always looks closed. It isn't - they are working on the lighting to convey that... Check the door! It is well worth it! The owners are brother and sister, and they know their Thai better than any other in the East Bay. My son will rave about the Mii Krob... I am fond of too many dishes to outline one here.... It is hip, romantic, family friendly, and tasty! You and your family will love it!

***** Greens

Perhaps the most amazingly wonderful vegetarian cuisine in the world, Greens leaves everybody happy, sated, and in awe. Even the carniverous teenage boys I brought along were impressed with the flavorful melding of nutritious creativity. If there is a vegetable you despise, I would bet Greens has found a way to make it irresistable. They do that to food. If I could eat there every night, I think I would! Nestled in Fort Mason, I highly recommend a night of comedy over at BATS as a perfect chaser!

**** Dragon Rouge

For any of you who are familiar with the higher end (and therefore more expensive) Le Cheval in Oakland, let me share with you a neat retreat: Dragon Rouge. While it's definitely a small venue tucked in the odd corner of Alameda where a gas station transmorgified into a locksmith decades ago, the ambiance is modern, calm, friendly, and yes, even a bit romantic. All of this is only fodder when it comes to the meals! Oh My Goodness! While I fairly much disdain meat, I cannot do anything but drool at the thought of their Mango steak wraps. Their hot pots are fragrant and filling. I have yet to be disappointed with a dish- and I definitely go there often enough to have tried just about everything on the menu... Well worth the $5-$15 price per plate.

Blackberry Bistro - Breakfast Best

***** You would never guess that such a humble looking storefront would house a Zagat rated 4 star bistro with the best breakfast in the East Bay. I assure you, Blackberry Bistro is a gem of an Oakland restaurant. Our group enjoyed everything from standard bacon and egg dishes, to monkey bread french toast, to potato pancakes, to pesto frittattas, to banana caramel bread pudding- with bowls of hot cocoa, chai lattes, and americanos on the side. We all tried bites of everything and could not declare a favorite amongst the assortment. This is one of those places where you want to try everything on the menu.... It's small, so large parties aren't recommended, but it's an experience all should have!

Cinnaholic - Breakfast Treat!

***** They weren't kidding when they decided to name this newest addition to Berkeley, Cinnaholic. This place is amazing. The aromatic scent of freshly baking cinnamon rolls lured the masses from the streets as they were walking to the Cal vs CU game today... The choices are so numerous and offer so much variety, it's hard to stand still thinking of such sinful calories and fat intake-- but then you find out it's all vegan! I had the peach pie specialty roll with fresh peach slices and streudel- my son ate the special of the day, laced with brownie and cookie bits, drizzled in dark chocolate. Our friends got custom made buns- one with bananas and graham crackers, and the other with peaches and cherries. Not one of us was disappointed. I topped it off with a cycling hat that oozes its charm- "Vegan Power (those of you who saw Scott Pilgram will muse at that one!)" and sports their stylish logo. Thank you, Martin, for the amazing lead!